Machine for filling ball retainers



May 29, 1923. 1,456,787

- J. DLESK MACHINE FOR FILLING BALL RETAINERS FiledvJ'uly l4 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 29, 1923. J. DLESK MACHINE FOR FILLING BALL RETAINERS 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July'l4 3 She'ets-Sheet 5 J. DLESK MACHINE FOR FILLING BALL RETAINERS Filed July 14, 1920' v REE-E- 4========W Patented May 29, 1923.

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JoHN nLnsK, OF B enwrn, Illinois, nssrenon TO U. s. BEARING MFG. corrrniv'y or cn'rcneo, rnnrnors, A conronnrmn er ILLInors- I firn'cnrnn role Ermine nnnnnn'rnnvnns. l

3' Application filed July 14, 1920. SeriaLNo. 396,241.

To (ZZZ whomit may concern:

Be 1t known-that 1; JOHN Durex, a. citizen of the United States, residlng at 1 106 Union Avenue, Ber-Wyn, in thecounty of CoolrIand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Machine fol-Filling nan Retainers, of which the following is a specification. I

This-invention relates to a machine for filling ball retainers and'is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which: t Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the 1nachine on the line 1, 1 of Fig. 2; I

2 is a plan view; r Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2; I r

Figs. at and 5 are partial vertical-sections on thelines 1, 4 and5, 50f Fig. 2; i

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionion the line' 6, 6 ofFigl; i I I Fig. 7; is a partial detail in plan of the guide way with a ball retainer therein;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are front; side and-back elevations respectively of a ball retainer with the balls assembled therein;' and Figs. 11 and 12 are sections on the lines 11 and 12 respecti'velyof Fig. 8. Y a

Fig. 13 shows the upper end of the plunger 19 and adjacent parts on an enlarged scale. v This machine is intended to be used for filling ball retainers of the type shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive. The ball retainer 13 consists of an annular ring 13 which is preferably arcuate in cross section as shown in Fig.- 11 so as to substantially fit" the contour of the balls 1e and has a series of arms 15 projecting from the inner edge of thejring 13, these arms terminatingin wldened or fan-like ends 16 which are bent back so as to overlie the ring 13 all of them lying in the same plane. The openings between the ends 16 are so proportioned that the balls are inserted by'forcin'g them in normally to these ends. l

My machine for doing this has a short column 17 which is adapted to be secured to any suitable support 18 and has a vertical bore in which is slidable a plunger 19. The transverse slot 20 is formed in the bottom of the column 17 in which the lever 21 is pivotally mounted to swing about the fulcrum pin 22. The lever 21 is pivotally connected to'the plunger 19 by means of a pin 23 the theform o fa hollow form which is conlength position shown in Fig. 1.

provided at the edges of the run-way30 at opposite end of the lever'being connected by meansflof alink 2 1'with a foot' lever (not shown). a 1 r r The upper end of the column 17-is madein,

tinned in the circular hopper '25 which is supported by the brackets-26 and'27 which are secured "to the column 17. Another bracket 28 issecured to the column 17 as shown in Fin". 6 and supports a die 29in alignmentwith the plunger- 19y port the run-way 30 to the'sides ofwhich are The brackets 26 and 27 also serve to supattached the guides 31, between which slides the slide 32. This slide carries a roller '33 and two springs 34: which :keep the roller 33 pressed back against the:curved:finger 21 which is an extension of the lever 21. 'Ilhe lever is i normally maintained. in the full Tl1e'run'Way'3O-'s provided witha central guide 35so that when a-ball' retainer :13'is placed thereon as'shown in 7.theguide way 35rwill pass through two of the open-, ings between the ends 16. The run-way v30 is provided with a circular opening .30? in alignment with the plungerll9- so. that the plunger may'pass therethrough; -The guide I 31 stops short ofthe opening "30 and springs 36 are provided which serveto hold the-ball retainers 13 centrally .over the opening 30 to which position it is pushed by the slide32. asshown 'inFig. 1'. Straight sides are the right of the opening 30% I .The upper-endof the plunger1'19is. proivided with av rounded'tapering portion 38 surroundednby a JflatLannular shoulder in which are placed a series of depressions 39 -.which correspond. with the openings in the ball retainer 13. The upper end of thevcolwhen the latter is at the bottom'of-itsstroke.

A 'slight shoulder 10 is placed .on'theupper end of the phmger .19 and the "bore. of the 'umn 17 is provided with slig'htradial grooves: l

column'17 is correspondingly recessed. This 3 provides for a definite bottoming position of the plunger 19 and at the same time provides for the proper agitation of the balls 14: in

the hopper. The method of operation of this machine is as follows: I

Balls 14 of a suitable size are placed; in the hopper 25. The lever 21 is then moved I more modifications.

ing the top of the plunger 19.

so as to raise the cam finger 21 to the dotted line position at which time thesprings 34L retract the slide to the position shown in Fig. 7, at which time a ball retainer 13 is placed so that two of the opposite openings therein pass over the guide Upon returning the lever 21 to a normal position, a ball retainer 13 is moved by the slide 32 to the position shown in Fig. The parts are now in the full line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with balls A- partly cover- Upon the next actuation of the lever 21 the plunger 19 is raised and the rounded central portion causes all the balls to be removed there from except those which are lined within the depression 39, each of these depressions lying immediately under one of the open ings in the bottom part of the'ball retainer 13. The plunger now moves on up and a rounded central portion 38 passes thru the ball retainer 13 which is held stationary by the bottom part of the die 29 and the balls let resting in the depressions 39 are forced into the openings of the ball retainer.

The slide 32 is now retracted and a new retainer placed over the guide 35 as before.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that it is capable ofmany Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made which do not depart from the scope of the appended claims in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for filling ball retainers, a hopper for the balls, an integral plunger reciprocable vertically thru said hopper and adapted to be lowered beneath the balls in the hopper, means on said plunger for holdlng a predetermined number of balls there on and means for holding a ball retainer so that the balls held on the plunger will be forced by said plunger into the ball retainer on the next upward reciprocation thereof.

2. In a machine for filling ball retainers, a hopper for the balls, an integral plunger reciprocable vertically thru said hopper and adapted to be lowered beneath the balls in the hopper, depressions in the upper end of said plunger for holding a predetermined number of balls thereon and means for holdcable adapted to be lowered beneath the balls ining a ball retainer so that the balls held on the plunger will be forced by said plunger into the ball retainer on the next upward reciprocation thereof. I

3. In a machine for filling ball retainers, a hopper for the balls, a plunger reciprocable vertically thru said hopper and adapted to be lowered beneath the balls in the hopper, means on said plunger for holding a predetermined number of balls thereon, means for holding a ball retainer so that the balls held on the plunger will be forced directly by said plunger into the ball retainer on the next upward reciprocation thereof and a tapered central end on said.

plunger adapted to center said retainer.

4. In a machine for filling ball retainers, a hopper for the balls, a plunger reciprovertically thru said hopper and the hopper, means on said plunger for hold ing a predetermined number of balls thereon, means for feeding ball retainers to a position above said plunger, and means for guiding said retainers so that. the balls held on the plunger will be forced by said plunger into the ball retainer on the next upward reciprocation thereof, said feeding means being operably connected to the plunger operating mechanism.

5. In a machine for filling ball retainers,

a hopper for the balls, a plunger reciprocable vertically thru said hopper and adapted to be lowered beneath the balls in the hopper, means on said plunger for holding a predetermined number of balls thereon, means for holding a ball retainer so that the balls held on the plunger will be forced into the ball retainer on the next upward reciprocation thereof, a guideway for said-- retainers at right angles to the plunger and a block slidable therein for pushing the empty retainers into registration with said plunger.

6. In a machine for filling ball retainers, a hopper for the balls, a plunger reciprocable vertically t ru said hopper and adapted to be lowerec beneath the balls in the hopper, means on said plunger for holding a. predetermined number of balls there I on, means for holding a ball retainer so that the balls held on the plunger will be forced into the ball retainer on the next JOHN DLE SK. 

